Golf swing training device

ABSTRACT

A golf training aid having a base and a plurality of flexible flappers is provided. The base may include a first side, a second side, and a length (l) having a first end and a second end. The plurality of flexible flappers may each include a rear end and a front end. The rear end may be attached to the base and the front end may protrude from at least one of the first side and the second side of the base. The plurality of flexible flappers may be oriented along the length (l) of the base. The front ends of the plurality of flexible flappers align to at least partially form a concave arc.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/821,066, filed May 8, 2013, the contents of which areherein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf training and, more particularly,to a golf instruction device to correct the path of a golfer's swing.

Golf instruction is the art of equipping and training golfers to playbetter golf through improved awareness of swing cause and effects as aresult of the actions by theft body, the club, and theft effect on thegolf ball. Currently, most golfers have an outside to in swing path oran inside to out swing path. The outside to in swing path and the insideto out swing path causes errant shots that do not project towards thedesired target.

As can be seen, there is a need for a training device to correct thegolfer's swing path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a golf training aid comprises: abase comprising a first side, a second side, and a length having a firstend and a second end; and a plurality of flexible flappers protrudingfrom at least one of the first side and the second side, along thelength of the base, wherein the flexible flappers each comprise a rearend attached to the base and a front end opposite the rear end, whereinthe front ends of the plurality of flexible flappers align to at leastpartially form a concave arc.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded detail view of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the flexible flapper of the present inventionof FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the alignment bar of the present invention ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in usedemonstrating impact with the flexible flapper of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention is a teaching aid that corrects over-plane(outside to in) swings and under-plane (inside to out) swings. Thepresent invention may include a base with five protruding flexibleflappers. These five flappers may be placed in slots that areequidistant from each other and form a 1″ arc. The base may be about26″×2″×3″. The five flexible members may be about 9″×6.5″. If the golferhits any of the flappers while swinging, the golfer receives instantfeedback that the swing is incorrect. Through repetition, the golfer mayeventually stop hitting the flappers and may thereby have correctedtheir swing by swinging on the correct inside-to-square-to-inside path.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention includes a golftraining aid having a base 12 and a plurality of flexible flappers 10.The base 12 may include a first side 13, a second side 15, and a length(l) having a first end 11 and a second end 17. The plurality of flexibleflappers 10 may each include a rear end 19 and a front end 21. The rearend 19 may be attached to the base 12 and the front end 21 may protrudefrom at least one of the first side 13 and the second side 15 of thebase 12. The plurality of flexible flappers 10 may be oriented along thelength (l) of the base. The front ends 21 of the plurality of flexibleflappers 10 align to at least partially form a concave arc 28.

The concave arc 28 of the aligned flexible flappers 10 may be formed bythe base 12, the length of the flexible flappers 10 or a combinationthereof. For example, the first side 15 of the base 12 may include aconcave shape or an arc. The flexible flappers 10 may each have the samelength and may protrude from the first side 15, thereby forming theconcave arc 28. Alternatively, the base 12 may be straight, and thelengths of the flexible flappers 10 may vary, thereby forming theconcave arc 28.

In certain embodiments, the plurality of flexible flappers 10 mayinclude at least a first outer flapper 10, a second outer flapper 10 anda middle flapper 10. The first outer flapper 10 is attached to the base12 near the first end 11 and the second outer flapper 10 is attached tothe base 12 near the second end 17. The middle flapper 10 is attached tothe base 12 in between the first outer flapper 10 and the second outerflapper 10. The middle flapper 10 may have a smaller length than thefirst outer flapper 10 and the second outer flapper 10 thereby formingthe concave arc 28. In certain embodiments, the outer flappers 10 may bethe same length as one another.

In certain embodiments, the plurality of flexible flappers 10 mayfurther include a first inner flapper 10 and a second inner flapper 10.The first inner flapper 10 is attached to the base 12 in between thefirst outer flapper 10 and the middle flapper 10, and the second innerflapper 10 is attached to the base 12 in between the second outerflapper 10 and the middle flapper 10. In such embodiments, the firstinner flapper 10 and the second inner flapper 10 are the same length andthe length of the inner flappers 10 is greater than the middle flapper10 and less than the outer flappers 10, thereby forming the concave arc28.

The flappers 10 may be easily removed from the base 10. In certainembodiments, the base 12 may include a plurality of equidistant slots 14along the length (l). Each of the plurality of flappers 10 may fitwithin each of the plurality of slots 14. The plurality of flappers 10may include a securement opening 24 near the rear end 19. The base 12may include a base opening 26 through the length (l) of the base 12 thatintersects with the plurality of slots 14. The securement opening 24 ofeach of the flexible flappers 10 aligns with the base opening 26 whenthe flexible flappers 10 are within the slots. An alignment bar 22 mayfit through the securement openings 24 of the flappers 10 and the baseopening 26, thereby securing the plurality of flappers 10 to the base12.

To use the present invention, the golfer 18 may place the ball 20 nearthe middle flapper 10. In certain embodiments, the ball 20 may be placedapproximately three inches from the middle flapper 10. The golfer 18 mayhit the ball 20 with a golf club 16, and if the golfer 18 swingsoutside-to-in, the golfer 18 will hit the first outer flapper 10. Whenthe golfer 18 swings from inside-to-outside, the golfer 18 will hit thesecond outer flapper 10 at the opposite end of the base 12. Both swingscause errant shots that do not project towards the desired target.Through repetition, the golfer 18 learns to swing on aninside-to-square-to inside path causing ball 20 to go straight ortowards the target. When the golfer 18 is practicing, the golfer 18 caningrain the motion of straight back and straight through to the target.

The present invention may be used by right or left handed golfers. Thepresent invention may be used at a golf practice range, using real golfballs, or inside a home or garage using foam or rubber golf balls. Thebase may be placed on a doormat or some other platform. Since thepresent invention offers instant feedback, the golfer knows when theirswing is incorrect. The result of the present invention is the same as aprofessional trainer informing the golfer when their swing is incorrect.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf training aid comprising: a base comprisinga first side, a second side, and a length having a first end and asecond end; and a plurality of flexible flappers protruding from atleast one of the first side and the second side, along the length of thebase, wherein the flexible flappers each comprise a rear end attached tothe base and a front end opposite the rear end, wherein the front endsof the plurality of flexible flappers align to at least partially form aconcave arc.
 2. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein a length ofthe plurality of flexible flappers are the same, wherein the base formsan arc forming the concave arc.
 3. The golf training aid of claim 1,wherein the plurality of flexible flappers comprises at least a firstouter flapper, a second outer flapper and a middle flapper, wherein thefirst outer flapper is attached to the base near the first end, thesecond outer flapper is attached to the base near the second end, andthe middle flapper is attached to the base in between the first outerflapper and the second outer flapper, wherein the middle flapper has asmaller length than the first outer flapper and the second outerflapper.
 4. The golf training aid of claim 3, wherein the plurality offlexible flappers further comprises a first inner flapper and a secondinner flapper, wherein the first inner flapper is attached to the basein between the first outer flapper and the middle flapper, and thesecond inner flapper is attached to the base in between the second outerflapper and the middle flapper.
 5. The golf training aid of claim 4,wherein the first inner flapper and the second inner flapper are thesame length, wherein the length of the inner flappers is greater thanthe middle flapper and less than the outer flappers.
 6. The golftraining aid of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a plurality ofequidistant slots along the length, wherein each of the plurality offlappers fits within each of the plurality of slots.
 7. The golftraining aid of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of flapperscomprises a securement opening near the rear end, wherein the basecomprises a base opening through the length of the base and intersectingwith the plurality of slots, wherein the securement opening aligns withthe base opening.
 8. The golf training aid of claim 7, furthercomprising an alignment bar formed to fit through the securement openingand the base opening, thereby securing the plurality of flappers to thebase.